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Speed Skating (Short Track)

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Expert Wanted

Do you know a speed skating coach in your community you think would be an ideal candidate to be MomsTeam's speed skating expert? Send his or her name to info@momsteam.com.

Footwear

Speed skates used to feature long, sharp runners that were fixed to a low-top boot. The more recent development of clap skates, however, has rendered the the fixed skate obsolete, although many amateurs still wear traditional skates. Clap skates (or slap skates) feature front hinged blades that allow the skater to fully extend their ankle, increasing range of movement and transfer of energy, as well as the amount of time the blade remains in contact with the ice. All of these advances combine to form a much faster, more efficient skate. When buying speed skates, remember: Trained staff are highly recommended to ensure a proper skate fit. Boot width is critical. If too wide, the foot will slide around inside the shoe. If the boot is too narrow, injury is likely. If a professional fitter

Helmets

Speed skating helmets feature aerodynamic oval shaped plastic and foam shells and should be worn at all times when skating. A speed skating helmet must come down over the forehead and the back of the head and should fit snugly and securely with the chin strap attached.

Short Track Speed Skating: Fast & Competitive

Speed Skating: the sport of racing on skates

Short track speed skating is a race in which skaters compete to become first out of four to six people. This sport requires balance, agility, speed, and strategic thinking. Although it sounds similar to long track, except for the size of the ice and the amount of skaters per race, it differs because both races require unique strategies.

Short track speed skating is great exercise for your children, and, if they love to skate but you don't like the physical contact found in hockey, this is a perfect compromise! Your child can skate fast and compete, without the worry of being hit hard into the boards.

MomsTeam's goal is to provide comprehensive information on speed skating: advice on the equipment needed and how to buy it, a primer on the rules of the sport, and videos and advice from experts, parents, and manufacturers of speed skating gear.

But to do that we are going to need your help. If you are a parent of a child who speedskates or has speedskated, we hope you will share what you have learned with other MomsTeam parents. Please consider writing a blog, contributing an article, posting on and/or hosting a Forum, or becoming a short track speed skating expert. If you know of someone who used to speed skkate or coach speedskating who has knowledge to share, ask him or her to join. Together we can make MomsTeam a true community of sports parents!

-Brooke de Lench
MomsTeam Founder


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